PROBUS CLUB OF MOUNT ELIZA INC

Po Box 667 Mt Eliza 3930 Founded 1985 Registration No. A0011403Y

Meetings commence 9.45am second Monday of the month. If Public Holiday, then third Monday.

Bulletin No. 386 19th June 2017

Committee Members 2017-18

President: Carol Spencer 9787 5825 V/President: Brian Mellady 5973 6218

Secretary: Brian Coughlan 9775 3361 Treasurer: Andy Troy 9787 2146

Tours/Ent: Mardi Malone 9775 3546 Speakers: James Malone 9775 3546

Membership: John Roberts 9787 1322 House: Estelle Gold 9787 3682

Bulletin: Deborah Fleiner 9775 2535 Welfare: Maxine Coughlan 9775 3361

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Hello Probus Friends

On 18th June there are 22 of us going down to Pier10 Restaurant at Shoreham for lunch. This is such a beautiful part of the Peninsular and the drive will be very enjoyable. Thank you Cathy, for organizing this outing. At our last Committee Meeting it was decided to have lunch after the Probus General Meeting in August at the Uniting Church. The committee will organise the luncheon and it will be free for everybody. Please put your name down so that we know the numbers for catering purposes. Keep warm during the cold weather and eat well. “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Charles M. Schulz

Carol

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OUR MAY MEETING

Attendance: 58 present, 15 apologies, 2 non-responses, plus 4 visitors. President: Carol Spencer welcomed all members and visitors to the meeting and acknowledged May birthdays. She called upon Peter Edkins, who being quite unprepared, had stepped in as the main speaker at April’s meeting. Carol presented him with a gift in appreciation. She then advised that two previous members of the club had recently passed away. They were Dick Springall and John Williams. Dick joined the club in 1994 and last attended in 2014. He was in charge of House in 1995-96, Membership Officer 1996-97, and President 2006-07. John was a foundation member of the Men’s Club in 1985 and was the Welfare Officer for the first twelve months. His membership ceased about three years ago when he went into care. Carol then called for a minutes silence to reflect and honour these two men.

Vice President: Brian Mellady thanked all those who had helped at the membership drive, with special mention of Jan Marshall who approached many people, and Margaret Lade, who appeared to tackle people with her walking stick. As a result some potential Probians had attended today’s meeting. Brian also mentioned that he looks forward to seeing more people come forward and participate in club activities.

Secretary: Brian Coughlan proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted. Various pieces of correspondence were read, and it was pointed out that the Probus magazines could be found on the table in the foyer.

Treasurer: Andy Troy gave thanks to Lindsay Gordon for his assistance in understanding the role of Treasurer. Andy presented the Treasurer’s Report, and commented that we pay a lot of money to Probus South Pacific.

Tours and Outings: Mardi Malone reported that the outing to Panorama Gardens Estate had been a pleasant surprise, and that the whole day was a huge success. The visit to the Dandenong Market proved to be very interesting also. She spoke of the Frankston Art Centre Program, Christmas in July at Norwood House, a visit to Beleura House, and a potential trip to the Murray area sometime in September. Mardi also mentioned that a representative from Cruise About would be available

after the meeting, to discuss nest February’s New Zealand Cruise with those who are interested in going.

Speakers: James Malone announced that today’s talk was on Gemmology, and thanked Neil Gold for arranging the speaker. Barry Iddles – well known Chef, will be the speaker in June. James also asked for more volunteers to do 10 minute talks.

Welfare: Maxine Coughlan advised that Bill Lumley was still on the sick list and quite frail.

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House: Estelle Gold invited members to put their names on the roster for assisting with the morning tea throughout the year.

Investment Club: Lindsay Gordon spoke for Max Batchelor who was enjoying a few days of golf. He said that the previous week had seen the market steadily rising and it almost reached 6000, when it died! Now it is not doing too well. However, the All Ords is up 2.5% for the year, and the group is up 2.3% including dividends. Andy Troy is still going strong, up by 39.9% for the year, Diane is up 22.8%, and Liz up 15.1%. The rest of the group are struggling, and most are in the red.

Fine Dining:

Cathy Toft was very pleased with the success of our visit to Licciardos. It was attended by more than twenty members and visitors and everyone said that their meal was delicious. The next outing will be a lunch at Pier 10 on Sunday 18th June.

Book Club: Jane Long was the discussion leader for our April book – There Should Be More Dancing by Rosalie Ham. Jane wrote an excellent review of the book. Here is a short excerpt:

“The moment I started reading this book I knew that the author Rosalie Ham must have had firsthand experience in Aged Care, and I later read that she had worked in a Nursing Home for 21 years. The machinations of relatives, their greed and denial of their mother’s feelings is not unique to Margery Blandon’s family, but right from the beginning of the book it sets the scene of human beings (families) at their most unpleasant, also exposes their lies, betrayal, mistrust, jealousies and many other worse aspects of humans.

But it is Margery who holds the stage. For all her scratchiness and selfishness, there is something intensely vulnerable about her that saves her from simple mean-mindedness. This is the paradox at the heart of the novel: its spry tone and absurd comedy cannot overwhelm the sadness that pervades Margery’s story. We are invited to laugh at her, with her, and even to weep for her. Margery’s pig-headedness is also the wellspring of her energy; if she loses that, does she become merely pathetic? I felt this book confronts its big themes robustly, and confirms Rosalie Ham as an original writer”.

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Golf at Creswick: Jane Long also reported on the successful trip to Creswick.

Eleven Probus members travelled to RACV Goldfields Creswick on Wednesday 3rd May for a 3 day stay. The resort was very comfortable, the golf course well maintained although long and difficult. Non golfers found plenty of areas to sight see and the beautiful

weather helped make the time in Creswick very enjoyable indeed with everyone participating and being convivial. We dined at different venues and on our final night the resort provided us with a private dining room making the night very memorable indeed. A good time

was had by all and another trip in 2018 will be planned around April/May.

. .

Jane also had a mishap whilst playing golf and broke her thumb.

Speakers: James Malone gave a very interesting 10 minute talk on his career in the television industry, which started in 1956, coinciding with the Olympic Games. He became the Federal Director of the Federation of Commercial Television Stations, and during the Whitlam years, the major debate was over Australian content. James became very public as spokesman in all facets of the media, and as such had some amusing anecdotes to entertain us with.

Our main speakers today were Darylle Kelly with her daughter Kate, who spoke about Gemstones of Australia. Darylle is one of Melbourne’s leading jewellery makers, specialising in South Sea Pearls, Gemstones and Diamonds. Kate is a certified Diamond Technician as well as a Gemmologist. Both described how they became interested in Gemmology. Kate then proceeded to give a brief but very interesting lesson on the formation of various gemstones, how they are found and

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identified using the Mohrs Scale of hardness. She also described how pearls are created within oysters and had many samples to show us. Darylle brought along some of her jewellery to admire or perhaps buy. James Malone thanked them both and presented them with a small gift.

FUTURE SPEAKERS

Today: Short Talk: None today due to induction. Main Talk: Barry Iddles - Well known Chef and Caterer July: Short Talk: To be advised Main Talk: Jan Marshall - Trip to China with the Welsh Choir

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Tours and Outings: Mardi Malone 9775 3546 July 2017 Friday 14th 12.30pm Christmas in July at Norwood House Come and join us for a Winters Experience. $46 pp August 2017 Thursday 10th Beleura House & Garden $36 pp Our visit commences with morning tea, then a tour of the garden and a

. light lunch. Meet at the Mornington Golf Club at 9.25am. 5

Vale – Vic Anderson

It is with much sadness that we record the passing of our esteemed Past President and friend Vic Anderson who died on May 29th 2017. Vic served on the management committee for five years and was president in 2005/6.

Our thoughts and prayers are extended to his family.

Coffee & Chat @ Degani’s: Tuesday 20th June at 10.30am. Meet up with friends at Degani’s for half an hour (or more) & enjoy a relaxing tea or coffee and a chat. No need to book – just come along.

Sylvia Chambers 9775 4498

Lunch at Canadian Bay Hotel: All members are invited to join Keith and Carol Spencer for lunch at the Canadian Bay Hotel after the Monthly General Meetings. There is a specials menu that includes a glass of wine for $22. Please let Carol know if you would like to attend by Morning Tea, so that she can make the booking.

Bi- Monthly Fine Dining: Please contact Cathy Toft for details and bookings on 97879561 Friday August 25th 12 noon Lunch at Le Bouchon French Cuisine, 10 Russel St. Balnarring,

A reminder to all Members that the Annual Fees are now due and payable. Please see the Treasurer if you have not already done so. Would any member who is unable to attend a general meeting please send their apologies to Membership Officer John Roberts Ph: 9787 1322 or email j_jroberts@hotmail.com.

This publication is private and confidential for Probus use only and is not to be used for any other purpose.

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Next General Meeting: 9.45am on Monday 10th July 2017 at the Uniting Church, Canadian Bay Rd. Mount Eliza.

Next Committee Meeting: 9.30am on Monday 26th June 2017 at the home of Andy and Sonia Troy.